Copper prices are on track for their strongest monthly gain in a year, driven by significant supply disruptions even as economic data from China points to ongoing weakness in manufacturing. Despite the dip, the metal remains up 4.5% for September, placing it close to a 16-month high. The sharp rise in copper prices has been supported by growing supply concerns. New economic data released Tuesday showed China’s factory activity contracted for a sixth consecutive month, the longest downturn since 2019. With prices near multi-year highs, the copper market remains caught between short-term volatility and long-term structural pressures.